◎After drinking, go kiss him!◎

This surprised Luo Wanqing somewhat. After a moment, she suddenly stood up: “She’s awake?! I’ll go right away…”

“Let her rest first, and you rest too.”

Cui Heng smiled and looked at the sky, reminding her: “It’s too late now.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing came to her senses. Her heart was beating rapidly, and just thinking about Zhang Jiuran waking up made her tremble with emotion.

But soon she realized that it was precisely because Zhang Jiuran had awakened that Xie Heng had made this move.

Using her to initiate the Qin family treason case, using Zhang Jiuran to conclude this case, to bring down the Crown Prince.

All of Xie Heng’s calculations were perfect, so perfect they were frightening.

He didn’t care about these chess pieces’ feelings, so he wouldn’t think—

“She might not be willing to testify.” Luo Wanqing looked up at Cui Heng. “Fengyu Pavilion knows about her family’s whereabouts. If she comes forward, her family will be in danger.”

“Then have her family come to the Supervision Department…”

“Is the Supervision Department trustworthy?”

Luo Wanqing interrupted Cui Heng’s words. Cui Heng paused.

Luo Wanqing said calmly, “Cui Heng, for people like Jiuran and me, we have no one we can trust. Our lives are just chess pieces for others, but our families cannot be.”

Cui Heng said nothing. He didn’t know why, but at this moment, a hidden, faint feeling of tenderness and regret arose in his heart.

He thought silently for a moment, then said: “At least inform her. Let her decide whether she’s willing or not.”

“What if she’s unwilling?”

Luo Wanqing insisted. Cui Heng thought for a moment, then simply said: “Then forget it.”

“The Young Master would agree?” Luo Wanqing frowned, obviously not believing.

Cui Heng said calmly: “I’ll take responsibility.”

Luo Wanqing was startled, looking up in surprise at the person before her, hearing him laugh: “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and your friend.”

Luo Wanqing was speechless.

The person before her wore a mask, but was completely different from the Supervision Department’s usual coldness – he was vibrant and alive.

He had schemes, intelligence, and excellent martial arts, but all of this he only used to shield her from wind and rain.

She clenched her fists, restraining her goodwill and dependence toward the person before her.

Cui Heng was completely unaware of her emotions. He raised his hand to throw the chess pieces into the box and stood up: “Alright, it’s late. I’m leaving.”

“Cui Heng.” Luo Wanqing called out to him, looking up at him. “You were willing to give me Qin Jue’s case because you knew I would return safely, right?”

“Naturally.” Cui Heng nodded.

“You were willing to put Qin Jue’s case in my hands, not just for the Young Master, but also for me, right?”

There was expectation in her words. Cui Heng paused.

Actually, the Qin family case shouldn’t have been pushed forward so early. He could have prepared more thoroughly.

Looking at her eyes, he didn’t deny it: “Yes.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing smiled.

Cui Heng looked at her bright eyes like autumn pools, then looked away. As if knowing her thoughts, he said softly, “Actually, you needn’t worry about these things. Everyone in this world is a chess piece. Others treat you as a chess piece, but they are also your chess pieces. You needn’t be troubled.”

“But you’re different.”

Luo Wanqing spoke. Cui Heng looked back in surprise.

Luo Wanqing looked at him seriously, promising, “I won’t treat Cui Guanlan as my chess piece.”

Cui Heng couldn’t speak. He looked at her quietly. After a long time, he smiled, only saying: “I don’t mind.”

Speaking thus, he turned around: “I’m leaving. Sleep early.”

Luo Wanqing watched his retreating figure. Though he said he didn’t mind, she could sense that when she said those words, he was still happy.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel joyful too. She sat in her position for a moment, then turned to look at the unfinished chessboard, pondering Cui Heng’s words.

For Xie Heng, in this chess game, his opponents were the Crown Prince, the Empress, the Wang family, or others.

But for Luo Wanqing, her opponent was the person who had harmed her father.

Li Guiyu, Zheng Pingsheng, Zheng Biyue, and others who had been involved.

Luo Wanqing’s mind went through their faces one by one, looking at the chess pieces on the board, analyzing their positions.

The Empress taking Li Guiyu away must mean the Crown Prince was in trouble. But today the Crown Prince was lively and energetic, so the Crown Prince probably didn’t have fatal injuries, just some defect that would prevent him from becoming emperor.

This being the case, the Wang family’s attention fell on Li Guiyu. But Li Guiyu had returned to court for too short a time. If the Crown Prince fell at this moment and Li Guiyu directly seized the heir position, there might be risks. So they should be planning to have Li Guiyu gradually take over the Crown Prince’s power.

But Xie Heng wouldn’t allow it.

Luo Wanqing raised her hand and placed a chess piece on the board.

Cui Heng was right. She was Xie Heng’s chess piece, but wasn’t Xie Heng also hers?

If according to the Wang family’s plan, Li Guiyu established a firm foothold in court, he was the Zheng family’s son-in-law, had the Emperor’s favor, was very capable, and if he secretly received Wang family assistance, the heir position would be certain.

But now, if she could help Xie Heng waste the Crown Prince at this time, then Li Guiyu couldn’t so steadily take over the Crown Prince’s power.

Moreover, he already had conflicts with the Empress. If she could add a little instigation, his alliance with the Wang family wouldn’t be stable either, making it easier to uproot him in the future.

He had already lost the Xie Heng of the previous life. If he also lost the Wang family, how much chance would Li Guiyu have of ascending the throne?

Cui Heng played chess step by step with careful planning. Her chess should also start from now.

The Crown Prince had to be ruined at this time.

Luo Wanqing made her decision.

Then she became somewhat curious – what was the Crown Prince’s fate in the previous life from her dream?

She thought carefully and suddenly realized.

The Crown Prince from the previous life…

Had died.

She wasn’t sure if it was at Fangfei Pavilion or somewhere else. She only knew that in the dream of the previous life, when Xie Heng was executed by a thousand cuts, the first charge against him was assassinating the Crown Prince.

Thinking of this, Luo Wanqing’s heart jumped.

She speculated that perhaps in a previous life, Xie Heng and Li Guiyu had allied early on, so at Fangfei Pavilion, Xie Heng and Li Guiyu worked together to assassinate the Crown Prince. After the Crown Prince’s death, the two pretended to be at odds. Li Guiyu secretly gained Wang family support, then Li Guiyu pretended to be at odds with the Wang family and gained the Emperor’s support. Finally, Li Guiyu safely became heir and ascended the throne, then after becoming emperor, joined with Xie Heng to eliminate the Wang family.

But this life was different.

Luo Wanqing thought again and relaxed.

In this life, it was Li Guiyu who assassinated the Crown Prince, and Xie Heng didn’t participate. Now the Crown Prince was being ruined through proper court procedures – no matter what, it wouldn’t become Xie Heng’s crime.

It was different after all.

Luo Wanqing stood up and walked to the window, looking down toward where Qin Jue lived at the foot of the mountain.

Thinking of Zhang Jiuran’s awakening, she felt comforted.

This time, she didn’t go to Lingnan, her family survived, Zhang Jiuran survived, Li Guiyu and Xie Heng didn’t ally, and the Crown Prince didn’t die by assassination…

Xie Heng might not follow the old path, losing to Li Guiyu and facing execution by a thousand cuts.

Luo Wanqing’s mind flashed to the young man in crimson official robes walking toward her today, and she couldn’t help smiling.

Cui Heng was not Xie Heng.

She was finally certain.

To be able to walk so openly in the palace, he must truly be an existing official. That should be… Cui Heng’s real appearance, right?

She didn’t want to investigate deeply. As long as he wasn’t Xie Heng, that was enough.

Xie Heng might not lose like in the previous life, but he also might not win.

But it didn’t matter.

Even if he lost, she was still there.

Luo Wanqing looked up coldly.

She had taken Qin Jue’s position, so in the future, she would do better than Qin Jue.

She would kill Li Guiyu.

Luo Wanqing slept through the night. When she woke early the next day, she opened her eyes to see Cui Heng sitting in the room drinking tea.

The spring sunlight was perfect. He sat in the sunlight wearing a blue, wide-sleeved robe with jade hanging from his waist, looking rather scholarly.

Luo Wanqing instinctively pulled the blanket tighter. Hearing the sound, Cui Heng turned to look over, examining her up and down with a half-smile: “Between you and me, is such wariness still necessary?”

Luo Wanqing’s movements stiffened slightly, then she realized that between her and Cui Heng, such male-female boundaries had long disappeared. Her current behavior seemed affected.

She forced herself to relax, coughed lightly: “Why are you here?”

“Wash up,” Cui Heng raised his hand and tossed clothes over. Luo Wanqing caught them in one motion. Cui Heng held a small fan, smiling as he turned to go out, “I’ll take you to see Zhang Jiuran.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing remembered what had happened yesterday.

She was concerned about Zhang Jiuran and quickly got up, changed clothes and washed, then came to the door.

Cui Heng was standing at the door waiting for her. Seeing her dressed, he led her down the mountain together.

On the road, for some reason, Luo Wanqing felt nervous.

Cui Heng glanced at her and laughed: “You don’t look very happy?”

“I am happy,” Luo Wanqing immediately said, “I just…”

Just what?

Just didn’t know what the future would bring.

Didn’t know if Zhang Jiuran would be happy when she woke up.

Didn’t know what changes her decision to change fate would bring.

Seeing her silence, Cui Heng thought for a moment, then simply said: “Accept what comes. Don’t overthink.”

Luo Wanqing heard his advice and nodded without saying more.

The two arrived at the gate of Qin Jue’s courtyard. Cui Heng was about to enter when he remembered something and reminded her: “Don’t call her Qin Jue when you go in.”

Luo Wanqing was puzzled. Cui Heng explained: “Qin Jue’s current identity in front of her is just a servant, called Ayu. Don’t call her wrong.”

Luo Wanqing understood Qin Jue’s feelings and nodded in response, then followed Cui Heng through the door.

When the gate opened, she immediately saw a woman in purple robes lying in a rocking chair. A small table was placed beside her with a bamboo dragonfly toy on it. She seemed in good spirits, rocking in the chair and sunbathing.

Her face had been restored. Though she still couldn’t see and her eyes were covered with cloth, her original features were still visible.

It was a face with clean, dignified features, completely different from Luo Wanqing’s delicate beauty.

She held a cup of hot tea in her hands, seeming to enjoy the warm spring sunshine.

Falling flowers drifted in the wind above her head. She sensitively sensed where the flowers came from, looked up and turned in that direction, lightly sniffing toward where the flowers bloomed.

This scene was peaceful and serene, making Luo Wanqing’s eyes grow warm.

Her earlier worries suddenly disappeared. She quietly watched the beautiful scene before her, feeling that everything was worthwhile.

Hearing the door open, the other person looked over. Neither Luo Wanqing nor Cui Heng spoke. The woman in the courtyard frowned and said coldly, “Who visits but doesn’t speak?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t know how to begin.

Zhang Jiuran tilted her head: “Have you come to laugh at this blind woman?”

“Xiniang.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing finally spoke.

Qin Jue wasn’t in the courtyard. She knew Cui Heng already knew her identity, so she boldly said: “It’s me, Luo…”

“Don’t say it!”

Zhang Jiuran immediately realized something and interrupted her.

She gripped her teacup tightly, controlling the trembling in her hands, guarding this secret.

The secret she and Luo Wanqing had exchanged – even now, she was still protecting it.

After a long time, she finally calmed down and said hoarsely, “Xiniang, you’re still alive.”

“Alive.”

Luo Wanqing walked to Zhang Jiuran and crouched down, looking up at her, suppressing the nasal tone in her voice: “Sister Jiuran, I’ve become a Supervision Department inspector.”

Zhang Jiuran paused. Luo Wanqing told her one thing after another: “Thanks to your kindness, my martial arts are now good. I killed Zhao Yuyan, destroyed Fengyu Pavilion, and settled my family well. They’re living very well.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s words, Zhang Jiuran lowered her head slightly. Listening to the voice, as if she could see Luo Wanqing, she said gently, “How did you become so capable?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t know why, but she felt moisture in her eyes.

Zhang Jiuran couldn’t figure it out and asked in confusion: “Did you encounter some adventure? How did you learn to use… internal energy?”

“I had my bones reforged.”

Luo Wanqing explained.

Zhang Jiuran paused. She put down her teacup and raised her hand to touch Luo Wanqing’s body.

Her meridians had just been reconnected, and her bones had just healed, so her touch on Luo Wanqing was gentle and soft.

No one could imagine that this was once Fengyu Pavilion’s top assassin.

She touched over Luo Wanqing’s shoulder, then raised her hand to touch her face, feeling the smooth skin under her fingertips. Zhang Jiuran asked in confusion: “This face?”

“I got a new one.”

Luo Wanqing smiled: “But it’s very similar to before.”

“You…”

Zhang Jiuran hesitated. She had many things she wanted to say, but after a long time, she finally only asked: “What about Yiran?”

“I saw him. He’s doing well.”

“Xiang Sizi?”

“Dead,” Luo Wanqing said calmly, “I killed him myself.”

“Good.”

Zhang Jiuran nodded, her expression neither sad nor happy, saying hoarsely: “Good.”

“A lot has happened during this time,” Luo Wanqing smiled, “We can talk slowly.”

Speaking thus, Luo Wanqing stood up. Cui Heng nearby watched and said: “You can bring her to your place. You two patients can recuperate together.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned to glance at Qin Jue walking out from the corridor.

Qin Jue gazed at Zhang Jiuran’s back. Luo Wanqing looked up at Cui Heng, who nodded.

Luo Wanqing knew this was Qin Jue’s intention and looked up at Zhang Jiuran: “Sister Jiuran, is that alright?”

“Of course.” Zhang Jiuran raised an eyebrow, then remembered: “But you need to tell Ayu. Recently, he’s been taking care of me quite attentively. Give him more silver, and I’ll find money to pay you back later.”

“Alright.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t say much, helping Zhang Jiuran stand: “I’ll take you to my place. We can have a good chat.”

Luo Wanqing helped Zhang Jiuran walk out.

Zhang Jiuran was led by Luo Wanqing along the path, listening to Luo Wanqing carefully recount this journey.

This journey was too long, and Luo Wanqing spoke for a long time.

Cui Heng escorted them up the mountain, then left, leaving the two girls to chat.

They talked until dusk. Zhang Jiuran sighed and said with feeling, “Your journey wasn’t easy. I imagine your martial arts are quite good now.”

“I have you to thank for that.” Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, “It’s all because you gave me your internal energy…”

“What I mean is, you should use this good martial arts for something proper.”

Luo Wanqing was startled, then immediately said: “Sister Jiuran is right. Since I’ve gained good martial arts skills, I won’t waste them. In the future, I’ll help the weak and punish the strong…”

“I’m not talking about that.” Zhang Jiuran immediately interrupted her, saying seriously, “I want to ask, is there wine here?”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Zhang Jiuran immediately understood: “There isn’t, right? Can you get some?”

“I…” Luo Wanqing hesitated, thinking of Cui Heng’s temperament, “I’m injured now, so I might not be able to…”

“I figured as much.”

Zhang Jiuran patted her shoulder: “Xiniang, do you remember what I told you in prison – you need to practice your alcohol tolerance.”

Luo Wanqing suddenly understood Zhang Jiuran’s meaning: “You want to drink?”

“Wine from Old Wang’s house on East Street, braised beef from Zhang Erniang next door, and small wontons from the little shop ten zhang further down.” Zhang Jiuran seemed to be reminiscing, “You haven’t tried them. Like this – no day is better than today. Carry me out of the Supervision Department and let’s hurry up and have a feast.”

Luo Wanqing struggled: “You’re a patient…”

“Don’t learn their ways. When life is good, enjoy it fully,” Zhang Jiuran waved her hand generously, laughing, “Take me drinking, or you’ll be a liar.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was helpless. Remembering their promise in the water dungeon, she was moved by Zhang Jiuran’s words.

The two girls whispered for a moment. Luo Wanqing helped Zhang Jiuran change clothes, then carried her on her back and secretly leaped out of the Supervision Department under the cover of night.

Zhang Jiuran wrapped her arms around Luo Wanqing’s neck, feeling the night wind on her face. In a great mood, she couldn’t help saying: “The man who came with you today was Cui Heng?”

“Mm.”

Luo Wanqing leaped across rooftops. Zhang Jiuran pondered: “His voice is the same as Qin Jue’s. Still hasn’t let you hear his real voice?”

Luo Wanqing paused and responded quietly: “Mm.”

“Tonight, sister will take you drinking for courage. When we get back, I’ll take you to make him let you hear his real voice. Not letting you see his face is one thing, but using someone else’s voice is too much!”

Zhang Jiuran suddenly became enthusiastic. Luo Wanqing frowned: “If you mind him using Qin Jue’s voice, he can just change to another one.”

“What are you afraid of?” Zhang Jiuran turned to look at her, “You’re going to marry eventually anyway. Sooner or later, what difference does meeting make?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s energy faltered, and she nearly fell off the roof.

She blushed and gritted her teeth: “What nonsense are you talking about?!”

“Which male-female partners in the Supervision Department don’t end up married? He reforged your bones and even kissed your chest. If you say you won’t marry him, wouldn’t he be taking advantage of a respectable young lady?”

Zhang Jiuran spoke seriously: “I’ll go probe him tomorrow.”

“If you dare talk nonsense in front of him, I’ll never bring you a drop of wine again!”

Luo Wanqing heard her words and, aware she was now blind, said with a red face: “I don’t have many friends. If you ruin this for me, we’re through!”

“Oh, friends.”

Zhang Jiuran didn’t believe it.

But thinking that Luo Wanqing was thin-skinned and considering that, as a blind person, she’d need Luo Wanqing to buy wine in the future, she could only compromise. She said with a half-smile: “Fine, whatever you say goes.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt much more at ease. She knew Zhang Jiuran wasn’t unreliable.

She carried Zhang Jiuran to the street and helped her walk along it.

After eating the small wontons she wanted, buying Zhang Erniang’s braised beef, and taking her to the small tavern she wanted to visit, they ordered wine. The two girls chatted casually while drinking.

Luo Wanqing had said most of what there was to say about herself, so Zhang Jiuran began talking about her own experiences: “I didn’t dare kill Xiang Sizi. If I killed him, I couldn’t protect my family, and… I couldn’t bear to kill him either. So I gave up!”

Zhang Jiuran smiled. She spoke simply, but Luo Wanqing knew how difficult that journey had been.

She listened quietly as Zhang Jiuran continued slowly: “I gave you my internal energy and found Zhao Yuyan. She had wanted to devour me for a long time. I promised her that if she sent you to the Supervision Department, I would return to the Eastern Capital for her to devour.”

“My family and I were exiled separately and didn’t stay together. When I got out, I contacted Qinglu and had Qinglu help, but someone in Fengyu Pavilion noticed I had escaped. Qinglu took advantage of the situation and reported this to Xiang Sizi. At this time, they heard you had gotten close to Qin Jue—” Zhang Jiuran smiled, her cloth-covered eyes seeming to see something as she turned to glance at her.

“You performed much better than I imagined. At that time, Xiang Sizi thought you were a good chess piece, possibly easier to infiltrate the Supervision Department than me, and easier to control. Look – you replaced a death row prisoner, hated Li Guiyu, had weaknesses everywhere. As long as they have your family, controlling you would be easy. So he came to find me personally and happened to encounter the landslide. He used the landslide to take both me and your family away.”

Zhang Jiuran spoke with some sadness: “Actually, I could tell he wanted to protect me too, but once Zhao Yuyan knew about this, he couldn’t protect me. He agreed to one request of mine – he let me go to Huguo Temple. I buried what you gave me under a tree, then accepted Fengyu Pavilion’s punishment for deserters. They broke my bones, destroyed my meridians, and threw me at Huguo Temple. But I knew,” Zhang Jiuran lowered her gaze, “he was trying to give me a way to live.”

He kept the news about Luo Wanqing’s family tightly sealed because he didn’t want people to know Zhang Jiuran had left.

He sent Zhao Yuyan to assassinate Qin Jue at the Supervision Department because he hoped she would die there, so no one would ever know Zhang Jiuran had left.

He threw Zhang Jiuran at Huguo Temple because he knew Luo Wanqing would go to Huguo Temple.

Luo Wanqing drank quietly. After a long time, she said hoarsely, “Will you resent me for killing him?”

“I’m the one who asked you to kill him.” Zhang Jiuran chuckled, “Because I couldn’t.”

Luo Wanqing nodded. Watching Zhang Jiuran’s seemingly indifferent attitude toward life and death, she finally said, “You’ve mentioned so many people, but there’s one person you never bring up. Why?”

Zhang Jiuran paused. After a long time, she smiled softly: “Because I’m not worthy.”

“The Supervision Department wants you to testify for him.”

Luo Wanqing finally got to the point. She couldn’t help gripping her wine cup tightly, feeling nervous.

Zhang Jiuran’s expression was calm: “Can you protect my family?”

“We’ll do our best.”

“I don’t want your best effort,” Zhang Jiuran looked at Luo Wanqing, “I want absolute certainty.”

Luo Wanqing understood Zhang Jiuran’s condition and nodded: “I’ll speak to the Young Master.”

“But are you willing?” Seeing how calm she was, Zhang Jiuran couldn’t help being curious.

Luo Wanqing looked up: “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“If I overturn the Qin family case, I’ll definitely be targeting the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince falls, Li Guiyu benefits,” Zhang Jiuran looked at her with some pity, “What will you do?”

“I’m not in a hurry.” Luo Wanqing spoke calmly, “I can wait slowly.”

“Good that you have a plan.” Zhang Jiuran thought for a moment, then became happy again, shaking her head: “Alright, let’s drink. Don’t talk about these unhappy things. Tell me, aren’t you the least bit moved by Cui Heng?”

“Drink this bowl.”

Luo Wanqing directly pushed over a bowl of clear wine. Zhang Jiuran clicked her tongue and picked up the wine jar: “I’ll drink this. You drink that bowl.”

The two pushed the wine back and forth. Luo Wanqing watched Zhang Jiuran drink boldly and felt too embarrassed not to drink at all.

Zhang Jiuran drank in large gulps while she sipped in small mouthfuls.

She had never really drunk alcohol before – what she’d had was sweet fruit wine. This was her first time drinking such strong liquor, and she just felt it burn her throat.

The two chatted casually as Zhang Jiuran began teaching Luo Wanqing about revenge experience.

“You can’t just focus on revenge – you have to live your life too. Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink. You’re seeking revenge, not joining a religion – you don’t need to cultivate your character. Since I’m dead anyway, but you saved me, consider me half a sister. I’ll help you. Tonight I’ll help you handle that man. Listen to me – hold him and kiss him, say you want to drink the wine in his mouth. I guarantee starting tomorrow, the way he looks at you will be…”

Before she finished speaking, Zhang Jiuran heard a “thunk” sound. Luo Wanqing’s head had knocked against the table and didn’t come back up.

Zhang Jiuran looked at her blankly, somewhat confused: “Did you hear what I said?”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Zhang Jiuran: “You’re my good sister, I’ll set you up with a boyfriend. Listen to your sister – use the excuse of drinking to kiss him!”